Universal water-cooler connection



Oct. 23, 1928. 1,688,871

c. H. LEONARD UNIVERSAL WATER COOLER CONNECTION Filed Oct. l2, 1925Patented Oct. 23, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. LEONARD, 0F GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGN- MENTS, TO KELVINATOR CORPORATION, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A.CORPORATION 0F MICHIGAN.

UNIVERSAL WATER-COOLER CONNECTION.

Application filed October 12, 1925. Serial No. 61,876.

This invention relates to a universal water cooler connection which maybe applied to cooling coils for water in refrigerators. It is thepractice in connection with some refrigerators to place a coil withinthe same in which water may be cooled. The water is supplied to the coileither by direct connection to a water main or by inverting a waterholding bottle so that water may run therefrom to the coil, the lowerend of the bottle being sealed by water seal in which the lower end 0fthe bottle is submerged. The present invention relates to a universalconnection for water coolers of this character whereby either method ofsupplying water to the coil may be used. When the refrigerator ismanufactured at the factory it is supplied with this universalconnection and the c ustomer may, without in any manner alterlng theconstruction, use either the water bottle system of supplying water tothe coil or the water main connection for this purpose, there being nonecessity of disasseinbling any parts of the construction and theapplication of either system of supplying water to the coil being veryready and easy.

It is a primary object and purpose of the present invention to provide asimple universal water cooling construction of this character torefrigerators and one which is readily manufactured and assembled at thefactory, and which when it reaches the customer is ready for theapplication of either of the methods of supplying water thereto. Theinvention is described in the following description and shown in theaccompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the universal water cooler connection, afragmentary portion of a water bottle being shown as supplying waterthereto.

Fig. 2 is a like view illustrating the same, the water being suppliedfrom a water main.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through saidconnection and illustrating a slightly different way in which the watermain connection may be applied, and

Fig. 4 is a vertical view of said connection illustrating the inventionapplied to a refrigerator, the water being supplied from an invertedwater bottle.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figuresof the drawing.

The refrigerator 1 of any preferred type,

has a coil 2 positioned in the upper portion thereof, at its outletlower end extending through the front of the refrigerator where it maybe equipped with a suitable faucet 3 which may be turned to open thesame and permit water to flow outwardly when desired. The upper end 4 ofthe coil has its upper end threaded, as indicated at 5, for connectionwith the interiorly threaded lower end of a sleeve 6 which forms onepart of a fitting comprising an essential element of this invention.This fitting is provided with an annular outwardly extending collar 7 adistance above its lower end, and above this collar is a secondintegrally formed sleeve 8 which, like the sleeve 6, is both interiorlyand exteriorly threaded, as shown. This fitting, comprising the twosleeves 6 and 8 with the collar 7 between them is made from a singlepiece of material, the sleeves being in alinement, and the fitting beinglocated a short distance below the top of the refrigerator. Y

A sheet metal cup 9 having a bottom 10 is located through an openingmade in the top of the refrigerator. The bottom 10, at one side isformed with a depressed portion 11 having an opening through it throughwhich the downwardly extending sleeve 6 0f the .fitting described ispassed.

A rubber ring or washer 12 is disposed between the under side of thecollar` 7 and the upper side of the depressed portion 11. A similar butsomewhat larger rubber ring or washer 13 is located around the sleeve 6below the depressed portion 1]` against which a sheet metal washer 14 isplaced, a binding nut 15 being screwed on to the lower end of the sleeve6, thereby compressing the washers 12 and 13 and making a very secureand water tight connection of the fitting to the cup.

The attachment of the fitting to the cup is made prior to the connectionto the part 4 of the coil on to which the sleeve 6 may be readilythreaded, as is obvious. The upper end of the cup 9 may`be flaredoutwardly slightly, as indicated at 9, The attachment of the cup to thetop of the refrigerator is made by means of screws 16 passing throughsuitable openings in the sides of the cup, whereby the cup is securelyconnected and held in place with its upper edges but little if any abovethe upper side of the refrigerator top.

This construction when applied to a refrigerator may be used for theready supply of water from a water bottle to the coil. That is, a bottle17 of relatively large size is inverted and placed with its neck 18extending into the upper end of the cup 9. The water runs from thebottle until the lower end of the neck 18 is submerged in the water inthe cup, indicated at 19 in F ig'. 1, thereby making a seal againstfurther escape of water from the bottle until some is drawn off throughthe faucet at 3. This manner of supplying water from a water bottle to a.coll is well known.

If the other system of supplying water to the coil is used, that is, bydirect connection with a water main, the cup 9 is not disturbed but thewater pipe 20 Connected with and getting its supply from a main, isconnected with the upper sleeve 8 of the fitting previously described.This may be done in two Ways. For instance, in Fig. 2, a nipple 21 isscrewed on to the pipe 20 at one end and at the other end screwed overthe upwardly extending sleeve 8. In Fig. 3, the pipe 22, correspondingto the pipe 20 in Fig. 2, is exteriorly threaded at its lower end, asindicated at 23, and then inserted into the interiorly threaded upperend of the fitting. Either method of connecting the water pipes 20 or 22is thus made possible by the construction shown and described.

It is evident from the foregoing that by this simple construction it ispossible for a refrigerator to be used without altering the refrigeratorconstruction for either method of water supply to the water coolingooil. The water bottle method of supply may be used and, without changeor disconnection of the cup 9, a water mam connection may be used asshown and described. This is a very valuable feature as the customerbuying a refrigerator does not desire to disassemble or disconnect anparts from it irrespective of which method7 of water supply he may use,and the construction described is universal in its adaptation to eithermethod. Furthermore, the cup serves a useful purpose when the water mainpipe connection is used, serving as a receptacle to receive any smallleakage which may occur when the pipe 20 or 22 is connected to thefitting. Such leakage will not be great in any case and the cup is ofsufficient capacity for the purpose and if leakage does occur it will bedetected in a short tune and repaired, in the meantime causing no damageas the water leaking is held'in the cup.

This invention is very practical and has proved its value in use. Theappended claims define the invention which is to be considered ascomprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

1. In combination with a refrigerator having a water carrying coillocated inside thereof with a terminal en d extending outwardly at thefront of the refrigerator and an inlet end extending upwardl of a fittinsecured to the upper end of sai inlet end o the coil, said fittingcomprising a sleeve, having an integral outwardly extending flangebetween the ends of the sleeve,' said sleeve being threaded externallyon each side of said flange, a cup having an opening in its bottomthrough which the lower portlon of said fitting extends, a binding nutthreaded on to the lower end of the fitting and yieldable washersdisposed between said nut and the bottom of the cup and between saidflange and the upper side of the bottom of said cup for permanentlysecuring the cup to Said {itting and making a water tight connectiontherewith, sa'id cup being set into the upper part of the refrigeratorthrough the top thereof.

2. In combination with a, refri erator having a water carrying coildispose within the refrigerator and with an upwardl extending inlet, amember attached to an extending vertically from the inlet end of thecoil, said member having a passage therethrough for the passage ofwater, a cup through the bottom of which said member passes, and meansconnecting the member to the cup to make a secure and water tightconnection, said member at its upper portion extending upwardly intosaid cup and being threaded to adapt it to have a pipe connection madetherewith without disturbing the connection of the said cup thereto.

3. In combination with a water carrying coil having an upwardlyextending inlet end threaded at its upper end, of a member comprisin asleeve interiorly and exteriorly threa ed at both ends and formed withan annular outwardly projecting flange between its ends, said water coilhaving screwed into one end of said sleeve, a cup having an opening inthe bottom through which the lower portion of said member extends, saidflange being located above the bottom of said cup, a binding nutthreaded on to the lower end of said member, and means disposed betweensaid flange and the bottom of the cup and between said nut and thebottom of said cup whereby on tightening the nut a secure and watertight connection of the member to the cup is made.

4. In combination with a refrigerator having a Water carrying coiltherein, said coil having an upwardly extending inlet end, of a cuplocated at the upper end of said inlet end of the coil, means attachedto said cup passing through the bottom thereof and having a longitudinalpassage therethrough for the assage of water, said means being securedto the inlet end of the-coil, and said means at its upper end Within andabove the bottom of the cup extending a distance upwardly into said cupand being equipped for coil, and means for securing said cup to theattachment of a. pipe thereto, Substantialsaid inlet end of the coil,said means includ- 10 ly as described. ing an auxiliary portionextending upwardly 5. In combination with a refrigerator havinto the cupund equipped for the attachment 5 ing a Water cooling coil thereinprovided with of a pipe thereto, substantially as described'. anupwardly extending inlet end, of a cup In testimony whereof I aiiix mysignature. located in proximity to the top of the refrigerator andsecured to the inlet end of the CHARLES H. LEONARD.

CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTIGN.

Patent No. 1,688,871. Granted October 23. w28. to

CHARLES H. LEONARD.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as fo'iiows: Page 2,line 108,` claim 3, for the word "having" read 'Vheing"; and that thesaid Letters Patent should y be read with this correction therein thatthe same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and'sealed this 19th day of February, A. D, 1929.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

wardly into said cup and being equipped for coil, and means for securingsaid cup to the attachment of a. pipe thereto, Substantialsaid inlet endof the coil, said means includ- 10 ly as described. ing an auxiliaryportion extending upwardly 5. In combination with a refrigerator havintothe cup und equipped for the attachment 5 ing a Water cooling coiltherein provided with of a pipe thereto, substantially as described'. anupwardly extending inlet end, of a cup In testimony whereof I aiiix mysignature. located in proximity to the top of the refrigerator andsecured to the inlet end of the CHARLES H. LEONARD.

CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTIGN.

Patent No. 1,688,871. Granted October 23. w28. to

CHARLES H. LEONARD.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as fo'iiows: Page 2,line 108,` claim 3, for the word "having" read 'Vheing"; and that thesaid Letters Patent should y be read with this correction therein thatthe same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and'sealed this 19th day of February, A. D, 1929.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

